Before Yinka Shonibare appeared at the Brooklyn Museum as part of Sensation, he was at the Seattle Art Museum with a gallery devoted to him, a rare case of Seattle being in the lead on the work of a fast-rising, international force.
Trevor Fairbrother, at the time SAM’s Deputy director of art and curator of modern art, had seen Shonibare’s work in London and bought an installation titled Nuclear Family more or less on the spot.
Back in Brooklyn once again with his own exhibit I plan to see before it closes September 20, Shonibare has become ubiquitous. It’s a dangerous position. Only an artist who is really hot can tumble in a season to tedious. So many write and talk about the star of the moment that the audience tires of itself and blames the artist for its boredom.
By taking longer to emerge and (in all senses) on a far smaller scale, Toronto’s Shary Boyle might end up with something resembling an advantage. Before she reaches international acclaim, she’ll have a back story to fuel her forward momentum and the ability to fail big without it costing her everything.
I am so glad to see that Seattle is supportive of Shary Boyle. Last month I saw her work in I Want You Magazine and hear she might be having an exhibit here soon.